Biosolids Burner Trough Design for NOx Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing burner systems for biosolids, such as those described in WO 90/14558, EP 0 076 353, and EP 1 122 495 A1, face inefficiencies and challenges in combustion processes due to limited air flow control and pollutant emission reduction, particularly with partial combustion and varying combustion conditions.

Innovation Solution

The burner system design includes a burner trough that dips into a transition space, creating a storage space for air supply, allowing for helical gas cylinder and cyclone-like air vortex formation, which leads to internal NOx reduction through central negative pressure and efficient air distribution via partial air ducts, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing pollutant emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the burner trough is arranged to dip into the transition space and delimit a storage space, then air flow distribution and combustion efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The burner system is divided into distinct functional zones: the burner trough dipping into the transition space, the storage space for air supply, and the combustion chamber. This segmentation allows optimized air flow control to different combustion zones, improving combustion efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through clear functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The burner trough is nested within the transition space, creating a compact configuration where the storage space is formed by the burner trough dipping into the transition space. This nesting arrangement optimizes space utilization and air flow paths without requiring additional external components, thereby improving combustion efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Measurement precision

If partial air ducts are used for air supply to the burner trough and combustion chamber, then air flow control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow control precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air supply system is segmented into multiple partial air ducts that deliver air to different locations: the storage space, the burner trough, and the combustion chamber. This segmentation enables precise control of air flow to each zone, optimizing combustion efficiency and pollutant reduction while maintaining a relatively simple duct configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different air flow rates and qualities are supplied to different locations within the combustion system through the partial air ducts. Primary air is supplied to the burner trough for fuel ignition, while secondary air is supplied to the combustion chamber for complete combustion. This local differentiation of air supply quality improves combustion control precision without requiring complex centralized control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the burner system is designed for compact configuration with the burner trough dipping into the transition space, then space utilization is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The burner trough is designed to dip into and be nested within the transition space, creating a compact integrated structure. This nesting configuration maximizes space utilization by eliminating separate housings for the burner and transition components, while the integrated design actually simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts that need to be assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The burner trough and transition space are merged into a single integrated structural unit, where the burner trough forms part of the transition space boundary. This merging eliminates the need for separate connections and joints between these components, simplifying manufacturing while achieving compact space utilization in the overall burner system configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This compact and variable design achieves uniform combustion, low-emission combustion, and efficient pollutant reduction, particularly suitable for wood pellet biosolids, with optimized air flow and distribution, resulting in improved burner system performance and reduced ash and dust content.

Implementation Method 1

the proportion of air that flows back in the direction of the burner trough and in the burner trough back to the fuel gas outlet during the cyclone-like flow through the gas mixing chamber emanating from the blower chamber and directed towards the fuel gas outlet as a result of the central vacuum formation in the cyclone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone flow: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

only partial combustion takes place in the burner recess, which is only open to the gas mixing chamber, and in the gas mixing chamber itself, and further burnout in the area of the fuel gas outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2002178B1Burner system, in particular for ovens fired by biosolids and method for operating such a burner system
Publication Date: 2010.06.16 WORLE UMWELTTECHN
  • EP2002178B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2002178B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

For a burner system, in particular for a burner system of ovens fired by biosolids, the burner trough is provided in a transition chamber between the fan arrangement and the gas-mixing chamber, air streams which are fed over different air-channelling paths flowing through the burner trough with vortexing action.